After the Supreme Court's directive for Delhi-NCR authorities to relocate all stray dogs to shelters was met with nationwide disapproval, Delhi government on Tuesday said it will address the issue with "compassion and empathy".
Delhi Development Minister Kapil Mishra, whose animal husbandry department will supervise the implementation of the SC order in the city, said the BJP government will address the stray dog issue with "compassion and empathy".
While the Delhi government said it would seek suggestions from stakeholders before framing a detailed plan to relocate street dogs, officials noted the civic bodies will start the process of implementing the apex court's order in a phased manner after Independence Day, PTI reported.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the relocation strategy. "We will have to look into our resources available and also allocate a budget for the campaign. We will plan a detailed campaign and take action accordingly," an NDMC official told PTI.
Several politicians and celebrities, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, actors Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, and filmmaker Siddharth Anand have expressed their disapproval of the order. Earlier in the day, animal rights activists also hit the streets against the directive.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Supreme Court directive was a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy, and stressed that "blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted, and strip us of compassion".
Former Lok Sabha MP Varun Gandhi termed the SC directive "institutionalisation of cruelty" and said that "nations face deeper moral crises when they step away from empathy".
His mother, Maneka Gandhi, animal rights activist and former Union minister, on Monday called the SC directive "impractical", "financially unviable" and "potentially harmful" to the region's ecological balance.
Animal lovers and caregivers from across the national capital staged a protest against the apex court's order on Tuesday, saying the move would harm street dogs and disrupt the bond they share with communities.
The protest, held at Connaught Place, saw participants holding placards that read "Beware: Kaal Bhairav is watching" and "Stop relocation, we stand in solidarity against the SC verdict". Many displayed a picture of Lord Shiva with a dog seated beside him, symbolising the cultural and spiritual connection between humans and animals, PTI reported.
The top court on Monday directed all the strays to be removed and put in shelters by the Delhi government and civic bodies of Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad.
A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan noted that there was an "extremely grim" situation due to stray dog bites resulting in rabies, particularly among children.
(With inputs from PTI)
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
